By focusing on the nexus between trust and mis- and disinformation this policy paper reveals the effects of trust reduction in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. How can societal resilience to mis- and disinformation be promoted and trust in democratic institutions reinforced?
Israel is famous for scientific research and technological innovation. However, when it comes to science communications, Israel is behind other countries. The COVID-19 pandemic additionally exposed a confidence crisis between the public and the scientific community. How can we bolster public trust in science and effectively battle the infodemic?
Misinformation and conspiracy myths pose a huge challenge to science and science communication as well as to an effective tackling of a global health crisis. This paper takes a closer look at the German response to the pandemic with a focus on trust in science, government’s measures and the spread of conspiracy myths.
Disinformation has become a widespread phenomenon in recent years, reaching a peak in attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Which protective mechanisms against the viral spread of misinformation are needed in Israel and around the world?
The Covid-19 pandemic has flooded global information platforms with an unprecedented amount of information. How can we increase resilience to misinformation and manipulation in response to crises, and the flood of information they engender?
The use of disinformation to influence citizens in key moments such as elections has shed light on the challenges new technologies pose to democracies. How can a multi-stakeholder approach effectively face this problem and consolidate democratic foundations?
Since 2016 there has been a sharp rise in the number of Ukranians and Georgians applying for asylum in Israel. Data collected by the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants (HRM) shows that Israeli entities, including human resource companies, are involved in this rise by spreading mis-information in the the Ukraine and Georgia about the possibility of working legally in Israel. They charge large sums of money as agents’ fees, and they may also be involved, to varying degrees, in selling fake documentation.
Knocking at the Gate – Flawed Access to the Asylum System due to the influx of applicants from the Ukraine and Georgia
Since the start of 2016, Israel has seen a sharp rise in the number of Ukrainian and Georgian citizens applying for asylum. Data collected by the Hotline for Refugees and Migrant (HRM) shows that Israeli entities are involved in the increase in the number of migrants from these countries, and that they include human resource companies, which spread misinformation in the countries of origin about working legally in Israel by exploiting the dysfunctional2 asylum system. They charge high fees for mediation and are allegedly involved in selling fake documents. The emerging picture is that of a new channel of human trafficking3 .
Due to the backlog at the Population and Immigration Authority’s (PIBA) Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Unit in Tel Aviv, all asylum seekers now face limited access to the asylum process. Despite the extended period during which the authorities have had to serve an ever growing population, the necessary changes have yet to be made. Every night, dozens of people wait outside the offices of the RSD Unit in harsh physical conditions hoping to be first in the queue the following morning in order to submit their asylum application.
